Air eliminator valve



May 15, 1956 w. F. BERCK 2,745,511

AIR ELIMINATOR VALVE.'

Filed May s, 1954 3 sheets-sheet 1 FIE| 1 "ll/l//l/l//lr/l//ll/ '4 JNVENTOR.

3 W/LL/AM BERCK May 15, 1956 w. F. BERCK AIR ELIMINATOR VALVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1954 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM E BERCK BY moa/MyW ATTORNEYS May 15, 1956 w. F. BERCK 2,745,511

AIR ELIMINATOR VALVE Filed May 3, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIIELJEI 64 T 4o s2 7 43 5 I 69 O 1 l I s3 5 52 47 56 O 59 g 4a 5* 5o 30 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM/F ERCK A T 70RNEKS` United States Patent 2,745,511 Am Erni/mettront VALVE William F. Berck, Hayward, Calif., assignor to Ralph N. Brodie Company, San Leandro, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 3, 1954, Serial No. #S27-,i951 7 YCiaims. (Cl. 18S-42.5)

This invention relates to an air eliminator assembly vand more particularly to a valve assembly for seperating and eliminating entrained air from a liquid.

It is well known that the Vpresence of entrained air and gas in liquid is a problem in many'phase's of industry. It is particularly a problem when positive displacement meters are used to accurately measure liquid in a flow- 'ing line wherein the entrained 'air or'gas must be elimi- Yna'ted in some manner before the liquid enters the meter in jorder to obtain an accurate measurement.

The principal object of this Vinvention is to provide a novel'form of air eliminator valve.

A `further object of this inventionris `to provide an air eliminator valve of the poppet 'type 'whereina bellows 'under line pressure is in abutting relation with the valve stein to balance the line pressure operating on Vthe head Vof the valve and statically balance the valve over the full range of possible line pressures.

A'preferred form of the instant invention is` described in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through an Vair eliminator assembly embodying the principles of my invention, `and 'showing the air escape Valve in its open position.

- fFig. 2 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. l but showingthe air escape valve, and its associated elements,

in the closedposition.

Fig. 3 Vis an enlarged sectional view through the .air escape valve-per se and illustrates the valve and its associated elementsin the positions Ythey would occupy 'when no pressure is inthe air eliminator assembly.

vFig. 4 is asimilar view to that shown in Pig. 3 and illustrates the positions occupied .by the various 'elements 'when the air eliminator assembly is under pressure v.and the air escape-valve is closed. l

Fig. 5 isa similar view to Figs. 3 and 4 and illustrates 'thepositions of the several elements with their'air'elimia'tor under 'pressure and the air escape valve open.

Referring now to the drawings, whereinsimilar'ref- "er'ence vnumerals are lused to designate similar parts "throughoutrthe various views shown, the air eliminator comprises a'housing, generally indicated at 10, provided with an linlet opening 11. The inlet 11 opens into a -cy- -lindrical screen 12 closed at its lower end-by a cap 13. An outlet opening 14 is provided adjacent the lower end ofthe housing 10. A butterfly valve-15 is located in the outlet 14 and is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft V16'ex'ten'ding through its mid-portion.

A cylindrical air trap 'chamber 17 is located in the upper portion of the housing 10 above the outlet V1li. A float 18 is located in said air trap chamber 17 for vertical reciprocating movement therein. A bracket 19 is fastened to the buttery valve 1S and extends outwardly therefrom. A link 2i) is attached at one of its ends to the outer vend of 'the bracket 19 by a pivotpin 21. A

.second pivotal connection 22 connectsthe other end of Athe link 26 'to a bracket 23 which is fastened to the ioat T18. "The'floa't 18 is guided forvertical movement by a `{guidefbar 24'which extends through a suitable opening provided in'saidoat.

The air'escapevalvemechanism is generally indicated at 2S and comprises a housing 26 having a-depending cylindrical skirt 27 'adapted to be slidably inserted in the upper end of the air trap chamber 17 Vand held therein lby suitable fastening member (not shown). -An annular groove 28 is formed in the outer surface of the skirt Vv27. An O-'ring'seal 29 is mounted in the groove 28 and seals against the inner surface ofthe housing 10.V An air 'escape passage 30 is provided in the upper portion of the valve housing-26 and is in communication with the air trap chamber 17. A valve 31'normal1y closes -said air escape passage 30.

A toggle mechanism is located in the `air trap chamber i7 and operatively connects -the float 18'With the valve 31. The togglemechanism consists of a lever 32 Apivotaliy connected tothe skirt -27 fof the valve housing '26 `at one Vof its ends in the manner indicated at 33. Y yThe -oth'er'end of the lever 32 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 34 which, rides .in a horizontal yslot 35 provided in al bracket 36 fastened to the heat-18. Aiiirst toggle link 37 is pivotally attached at one-0f its ends -to the arm 32 intermediate the ends thereof, as indicated at 38. The other end of the link 37 is pivotally attached at 39 to one end of a second Vtoggle link 40. vThe other end of the link 40 is pivotally attached at 41 to the housing 26. A roller 42 zis rotatably mounted-on the link 40 intermediate the ends thereof and is conined between two thrust washers 43and 44 fastened to the valve Y31 in a manner to be described.

Referring now to Figs. 3 'to 5, the air escape valve fassembly 25 comprises the housing `26 having 1a transversely extending cylindrical'recess 45 which connects at its vleft `end with a vertical opening 46 in communication with the air trap chamber 17. The'air escape passage 30 communicates with the ,recess 45. Aninwardly `facing flange 47 cooperates with and forms the valveiseatfor the poppet valve 31 Which'is Vmounted'with its axis coincident with the axis ofthe recess '45. AA capmember 43 is mounted on the Valve 31 "and has a 'depending flange@ which holds an O-rin'g 50 in the semicircular groove 51 formed adjacent the rim of the valve '31. A valve stem 52 having an enlarged portion formed therelon'isrinserted through the thrust ywasher V44, cap 48 'and valve 31 and is held therein by a nut 53, with Vtheonlarged portion 52a abutting the washer 44 'and th'einut 53 abutting the right-hand end 'of the valve An O-ring '74 prevents leakage between vthe lstem 52 vfand the valve 31. f

One end'o'f the valve stem S2 Aextends beyond theright end of 'the valve 31, in the manner indicated -at 54,fand is slidably receivedin a vcentral aperture of a .guide Tplate 55 mounted in the recess 45 adjacent the mideporti'on thereof. An aperture 56 is provided in thefguidewplte d5 to permit air to travel freely from one side fof 'fsa-id plate to the other. A reduced'diameter lportion 571of the valve `stern 52 extends in the opposite direction .from the enlarged portion 52a and is slidablyreceivedfin. a guide bushing'SS mounted in a cap '-59 fastened in the left end of the recess 4S. A nut i613 .is threaded on 'said extended portion `57 and -holds lthe g thrust gwasher'dl against the enlarged portion 52a. The `ce1-p59 .is-provided with an O-ring 61 which seals 'against the walls of the recess 45. A port 62 in thejcap v59 connects .therecess 45 with the space 63 behind the -end of the Valve stem extension 57.

The pressure acting on theleft end I'of the valve31 is balanced by a bellows assembly 64 comprising -asylphon bellows 65 fixed at ouefof its ends to an fend lmerr'rber 66 and at its'other end to an end mem-ber `-67. -A'stud 65 is fastened at one of its ends to the y'end member 66. l'h'e other 4end thereof .is .threaded vinto a-cap 69, which closes the right 'end of 'the recess 45. An O-.ring 7-s mounted on the member 66 and'seals against the walls ofthe'recess 45, and similarly an (Zt-ring 71 4is mounted on. the cap 69 and seals against the walls of the recess 4S. A port 72 in the skirt 27 connects the air trap cham- Y ber 17 with the recess 5 between the end member 66 and the cap 69. A port'73 in the end member connects the interior of the bellows 65 with Vthe space between the end member 66 and the cap 69. Hence, the interior of the bellows 65 is at the vsame pressure as the air trap chamber 17.

In the operation of the device, when the pipe line into -which the assembly is connected is not under pressure, the air'escape valvemechanisrn 25 will-assume the posi- *tion illustrated in Fig. 3, with the beilows 65 contracted and the bellows end 67 out of contact with the valve stem extension 54. The assembly is initially'adjusted by threading the stud'68 into or out of' the cap 69, When the Yiluid line is put under pressure, the pressure from the I' air trap'chamber 17 acts against the valve 3i and through the port 62 against the end of the valve stem extension 57, and tends to keep the valve closed. This tend# ency is overcome by the actionfof the sylphon bellows 65 which expands due to the pressure inside admitted from the air trap chamber 17 through the ports 72 and 73; When the bellows 65 expands, the end 67 thereof i `suiiiciently, the float 18 will lower therewith and through the toggle mechanism open the valve 31 and permit the air or gas to escape through the passageway 30. As the air escapes, the liquid level rises and carries with it the float 18, causing the toggle linkage to close the valve 31 and prevent the escape of the liquid.

The air escape valve described herein is very sensitive and is operative over an ininite range of pressures since the valve at all times is statically balanced and does not have to overcome the line pressure in order to open.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An air eliminating apparatus comprising a housing, an inlet to said housing, an outlet from said housing, an artrap chamber above both said inlet and said outlet, a passageway venting said air trap chamber, a poppet type valve normally closing said passageway, float means in said air trap chamber, means operatively connecting said oat to said valve, and means for applying the pressure in said housing to both ends of said valve to statically 'balance said valve at all times when said valve is in its closed position.

2. An air eliminating apparatus comprising a housing, an inlet to saidhousing, Van outlet from said housing, an air Ytrap chamber above both said inlet and said outlet, a passageway venting said air trap chamber, a poppet type valve normally closing said passageway, said valve being mounted for reciprocal motion longitudinally of its axis, oat means in said air trap chamber, means operatively connecting said lloat to said valve, and means for applying the pressure in said housing to both ends of said valve to statically balance said valve at all times when said valve is in the closed position.

3. An air eliminating apparatus comprising a housing, an inlet to said housing, an outlet from said housing, an air trap chamber above both said inlet and said outlet,

Y a passageway venting said air trap chamber, a poppet type valve normally closing said passageway, said valve being mounted for reciprocal motion longitudinally of its axis, fioat means in said air trap chamber, a toggle linkage connecting said oat to said valve, and means for applying the pressure in said housing to both ends of said valve to'statically balance said valve at all times when said valve is in its closed position.

4. An air eliminating apparatus comprising a housing,

' an inlet to said housing, an outlet from said housing, an

air trap chamber above both said inlet and said outlet, a passageway venting said air trap chamber, a valve in said passageway, a stem on said valve extending from the side thereof exposed to the atmosphere,iioat means in said air trap chamber, means operatively connecting said oat to said valve, a sylphon bellows having one end v fixed in said valve housing, the other end thereof adapted to contact the stem of said valve, means for applying the air trap chamber pressure to the inside of said bellows,

and means for exposing the outside of said bellows to the pressure of the exhaust passageway.

5. VAn air eliminating apparatus comprising a housing, an inlet torsaid housing, an outlet from said housing, an air trap chamber above both said inlet'and said outlet, a passageway venting said air trap chamber, a poppet type valve normally closing said passageway, a stem on said Valve extending from the side thereof exposed to the atmosphere, oat means in said air trap chamber,

means operatively connecting said float to said valve, a sylphon bellows having one end iixed in said valve housing, the other end thereof adapted to contact the stem of said valve, means for applying the air trap chamber pressure to the inside of said bellows, and means for exposing the outside of said bellows to the pressure of f the exhaust passageway.

6. An air eliminating apparatus comprising a housing, an inlet to said housing, Van outlet from said housing, an air trap chamber above both said inlet and said outlet, a passageway venting said air trap chamber, a poppet type valve normally closing said passageway, said valve being mounted for reciprocal motion longitudinally of its axis, a stem on said Valve extending from the side thereof exposed to the atmosphere, iloat means in said air trap chamber, means operatively connecting said oat to said valve, a sylphon bellows having one end xed in said valve housing, the other end thereof adapted to contact the stem of said valve, `means for applying the air trap chamber pressure to the inside of said bellows, and means for exposing the outside of said bellows to the pressure of the exhaust passageway. Y

7. An air eliminating apparatus comprising a housing.

an inlet to said housing, an outlet fromV said housing, an air trap chamber above both said inlet and said outlet, a passageway Venting said air trap chamber, a poppet type valve normally closing said passageway, said valve being mounted for reciprocal motion longitudinally of its axis, a stem on `said valve extending from the side thereof exposed to the atmosphere, float means Vin said air trap chamber, a toggle linkage connecting said float to said valve, a sylphon bellows. having one end fixed in said valvehousing, the other end thereof adapted to contact the stem of said valve, means for applying the air trap chamber pressure to the inside of said bellows, and means for exposing the outside of said bellows to the pressure of the exhaust passageway.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

